Background: Globally, adolescent sexual behavior is a
major health concern and the focus of many researches. However, negative
attitude towards premarital sex and sense of community belonging have not been
examined in relation to adolescent sexual behavior. The purpose of this study
was to examine whether these two factors are associated with adolescent sexual behavior.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1672 eleventhgrade students from three public high schools in
Hanoi, Vietnam. Participants’ sense of community belonging and negative
attitude towards premarital sex were assessed through a self-administered
questionnaire. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses to examine
associations between the cognitive social capital concepts, such as a sense of
community belonging. Results: 92.3% of students agreed with a sense of
community belonging, but only 14.1% of students accepted premarital sex. A high
sense of community belonging was significantly associated with negative
attitude towards premarital sex OR (95%CI), male 3.16 (2.3-4.34), female 8.77 (5.38-14.29). After adjusting
for a sense of community belonging, the association disappeared between
acceptance of premarital sex and sexual experience of peers, proper time to
wear a condom, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale score. Conclusion: Cognitive
social capital, such as sense of community belonging, was associated with negative
attitude towards premarital sex. Therefore, cognitive social capital concepts
should be included in sexual behavior and health promotions, especially with
adolescents.

Watanabe, K. , Kaneko, Y. , Fujita, K. and Motohashi, Y. (2014) The Association between Awareness of Sexual Behavior and Cognitive Social Capital among High School Students in Vietnam. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4, 116-122. doi: 10.4236/ojpm.2014.43016.

Anthony, D. and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2011) The State of the World’s Children 2011—Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity. http://www.unicef.org/sowc2011/pdfs/SOWC-2011-Main-Report_EN_02092011.pdf

Mensch, B., Clark, W. and Dang, N. (2002) Premarital Sex in Vietnam: Is the Current Concern with Adolescent Reproductive Health Warranted? Population Council No.163. http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/wp/163.pdf

McPherson, K., Kerr, S., McGee, E., Cheater, F. and Morgan, A. (2013) The Role and Impact of Social Capital on the Health and Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Glasgow Centre for Population Health. http://www.gcph.co.uk/assets/0000/3647/Social_capital_final_2013.pdf